Phonograph-operating mechanism.



PATENTED JUNE 7, 1904.

I F. PEARCE. PHONOGRAPH OPERATING MECHANISM;

APPLIOATION'PILBD MAR. 14, 1904.

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PATENTED JUNE 7, 19M.-

,1; ATTORN M F. PEARCE,

APPLIOATIOI nun In. 14. 1904.

PHONOGRAPH OPERATING MECHANISM N0 MODEL.

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, WITNESSES:

No. 761,705. PATENTED JUNE'Z, 1904.

RPEAROE.

PHONOGRAPH OPERATING MECHANISM.

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Patented une *7, 1904.

PATENT- OFFICE.

FREDERICK PEARCE,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PHONOGRAPH-CPERATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,705, dated J une 7, 1904.

Application filed March 14, 1904.

- To all whom, it may concern:

' Be it known that I, FREDERICK PEARCE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New Yorkcity, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Phonograph-Opcrating Mechanisms, of which the following is aspecitication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to phonograph-operating mechanism, and particularly to return mechanism therefor.

My inventioncomprises a worm. and rack automatically operated to engage each other at a predetermined point in the forward movement of the phonograph carriage, the worm rotated by suitable driving connections and connected to said carriage, so as to impart thereto a quick return movement, means being provided for disconnecting the carriage from direct driving engagement with its driveshaft at the time of the operative engagement of the worm and rack with each other. I

My invention also consists in certain improved means for adjusting the point at which the carriage commences its return movement and for adjusting the point at which the carriage completes its return movement, in an improved means for opening an electric circuit upon the completion of the carriage return movement, and in certain novel details of construction and combination of parts, as will hereinafter be fully pointed out.

I will now proceed to describe a machine embodying my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of I a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view'of the same. Fig. 3 is a partial front view and a view partially in vertical section of certain portions of the return mechanism, showing the parts in the position they occupy when operating to return the carriage. Fig. '4 is a vertical transverse section, substantially upon the plane of the line 1 4 of Fig. 2, of the carriage-return mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing certain parts of the carriage-return mechanism in the positions they occupy just prior to the com- Serial No. 198,034. (No model.)

mencement of the return movement of the carriage. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the circuit-controlling means. 1

The phonograph herein. illustrated comprises the usual frame and bed 1, rear guiderod 2, revolving feed-screw 3, and carriage 4. The screw-shaft carries the cylinder 5 for supporting the phonograph-records, and the carriage 4 carries the open-sided feed-nut 6, which engages the feed-screw 3, and a recording or receiving member 7 The carriage is supported at the rear upon the rear guide-rod 2 and slides freely thereon and is supported in front by a horn 8, which rests upon the front guide-bar 9. The feed-screw shaft is revolved continuously in one direction by means of a belt connection with a pulley 10 from a suitable electric or other motor. (Not shown.)

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an improved means for lifting the carriage free from engagement with the feedscrew after the rendering of a record has been completed and for quickly returning the carriage to its initial position ready for again rendering the record when desired.

For the above purpose I provide an auxiliary shaft 11 suitably mounted to rotate in bearings upon the frame or bed '1 and connect the said shaft to rotate with the feedscrew shaft by belt-and-pulley connections 12. A worm 13 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 11, but has a splined connection therewith, whereby relativelongitudinal movement is freely permitted. The worm is connected to the carriage by means of a swinging arm 14:, pivoted to a rod 15, adjustably secured to a block 16, rigidly fastened to the horn 8 of the-carriage, which yoke has a forked end engaging the grooves, hub, or collar 17 of the :-worm.' The said worm therefore partakes of the longitudinal movements of the carriage and of the rotary movements of the auxiliary shaft. a

A swinging rack 18 is mounted beneath the worm 13 and auxiliary shaft 11, said rack pivoted tolinks 19 in turn pivoted at 20 to the said frame or bed 1 or a part secured thereto. The link connections 19 impartto the rack 18 a parallel swinging movement toward and away from the shaftll. In Fig. 2 the rack is shown in its lowermost position, in which position its teeth are out of the path of movement of the worm 13. In Fig. 3 the rack is shown as swung to its uppermost position, in which position its teeth engage the worm 13, as clearly shown. The said rack 18 carries at the rear thereof a plate 21, which is arranged directly beneath an extension 22 of the block 16, carried by the carriage. In the lowermost position of the rack the top of the plate 21 is out of contact with the said extension 22; but as the rack 18 swings upward the top of the said plate 21 engages the under side of the said extension 22 and upon completing its movement lifts the front end of the carriage a suflicient distance to cause the feednut 6 to disengage the feed-screw 3. W hen in this position, the front of the carriage is supported by the plate 21 in lieu of the guidebar 9 and may slide freely thereon free from control of the feed-screw.

The rack 18 is operated to lift it into engagement with the worm 13 by means of a tripping-bar 23, adjustably secured to and carried by the carriage, being slidabl y mounted in the extension 22 of the block 16, said tripping-bar having an end piece 2 1, which engages a rocker-arm 25, secured to one of the links 19. The rocker-arm is preferably provided with a spring-tongue 26, which acts as a buffer between the end piece 2 1 and the rocker-arm 25.

The operation is as follows: A suitable connection with the belt-wheel 10 from a source of power (not shown) imparts rotary movement to the feed-screw shaft and by means of the engagement of the feed-nuts 6, secured to the carriage, a longitudinal movement from left to right of the carriage. Rotary movement l is simultaneously imparted to the auxiliary shaft 11 by reason of the belt connection 12, rotary motion being thereby imparted to the worm 13, the worm 13 being simultaneously moved along the auxiliary shaft 11 by means of its connection through the lever 14 and rod 15 with the carriage. In the movement of' the carriage the end piece 24 of the trippingbar 23 gradually approaches the rocker-arm 25, and movement of the carriage continues until the rocker-arm 25 is forced over by the tripping-bar 23 to lift the rack 18. As the rack 18 is lifted the plate 21 engages the under side of the extension 22 of the block 16 and lifts the front of the carriage, so as to disengage the feed-nut 6 from the feed-screw 3. This lifting movement in no way afl'ects the connection between the worm 13 and the carriage 4, because the forked end of the lever 1 1 permits considerable sliding movement of the lever, while still maintaining its engagement with the collar 17. The lifting of the rack causes the teeth thereof to engage the worm 13. The pitch of the worm 13 is very much greater than is the pitch of the feed-screw 3, so that any movement caused by engagement of the worm 13 with the rack 13 will be very much faster than a movement caused by engagement of the feed-nut (3 with the feedscrew 3. The first effect of the engagement of the worm 13 with the teeth of the rack 18 will be to rapidly complete the swingingmme ment of the rack 18, swinging the said raek over as far to the right as it will go. The. end of the rack 18 engages the bracket 27 and forms a stop, preventingexcess of movement of the rack 8 beyond that which is desired. The parts are shown in this position in Fig. 3 of the drawings. \Vhen the rack can move no farther, the worm 13 will wind itself along the teeth of the rack, so as to slide upon its shaft rapidly to the left. In so sliding it will carry with it the carriage, which at this time will be free from control by its feed-screw 3. The engagementof the extension 22 with the plate 21 is such as to permit free sliding movement of the carriage while preventing it from dropping. The carriage will be moved over to the left until the worm winds itself clear of the teeth of the rack at the left-ham] end thereof, when the rack will then be free to drop back to its normal position, in which position it is shown in Fig. 2. .In dropping back to its normal position the plate 21 will be freed from the extension 22 and the earriage will be allowed to drop down, so that the feed-nut 6 will again engage the thrust of the feed-screw 3. The carriage will now be free to be carried over to the right again for another cycle of operations, as above described. The starting position of theearriage may be adjusted by means of the lengthwise adjustment permitted to the rod 15, a serew 28 being provided for locking the rod 15 in the position to which it may be adjusted. Similarly the point at which the carriage commences its return movement may be adjusted by means of the lengthwise :uljustment permitted to the tripping-bar 23, an adjustingscrew 29 being provided for locking the bar in the position to which it may have. been ad justed.

In order to prevent too rapid a return movement of the rack 18 and to prevent jar upon the parts, I have provided an air-cheek comprising a cylinder 30, having mounted therein a piston 31, whose piston-rod 32 is in the path of movement of an arm 33, secured to the rocker-arn'i 25 and link 15). In the downward movementof the rack 18, and hence upward movement of the arm 33, the said arm engages the piston-rod 32 and forces the piston 31 upward. The piston 31 is made to (it somewhat loosely in the cylinder 30, so that the air contained in the said cylinder will pass from one side of the piston to the other as the said pistonmoves. The lit of the piston employed is close enough to cause this movement to take place somewhat slowly, and hence the return movement of the rack 18 will be retarded.

In order to inforce complete upward movement of the rack 18 prior to the commencement of the return movement of the carriage, I have provided a swinging detent 34, pivoted at 35 to the frame of the machine or a part secured thereto, which detent is springactuated in onedirection by means of a spring 36 and limited in its movement in such direction by means of an adjustable stop 37 The end piece 24 is provided with a rearwardlyextending finger 38, (see particularly Fig. 4,) which passes over the top of the detent 34 when the carriage is moving to the right, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The finger 38, however, engages the top of the detent 34 and forces it downward against its spring tension until, finally, just after the end piece 24 engages the spring-tongue 26, of the rocker-arm 25 it passes beyond the end of the detent 34, and the detent 34 moves upward behind the finger 38 so far as the stop 37 will allow it. The

parts are shown in this position in detail,Fig. 5, I

and when in this position the engagement of the end of the detent 34 with the rear side of the finger 38 will prevent the carriage from moving to the left until upon the completion of the swinging movement of the rack 18 the carriage will have been lifted as far as is desired, at which time the under side of the finger 38 will have been just lifted clear of the end of the detent 34. The carriage will then be free to travel to the left, as above described. In Fig. 3 the parts are shown with the carriage just lifted to such a position as to cause the finger 38 to clear the top of the detent 34.

The preferred form of motor for operating the machine is an electric motor, and it is desirable that there shall be means provided for breaking circuit, so as to cut out the electric motor upon the completion of the return movement of the carriage. Circuit may be closed in any desired manner, the means for this purpose forming no part of my present invention. In order to break the electrical circuit at the end of the return movement of the carriage, I preferably employ the movement of the rack, as thereby I leave the carriage entirely free of the electrical control, as is desirable, and insure proper return of all the parts to their normal positions before.

stopping the motor. I connect an arm 39 with one of the links 19 of the rack 18, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) so that the said arm will partake of the movements of said link and the rack-bar. To the end of the arm 39 I pivotally connect a connecting-rod 40. This connecting-rod may be of any length desired, as preferably the electrical control will be at some distance from the phonograph. In Fig. 2 I have shown the said connecting-rod broken away, and at Fig. 6 I have shown the lower end of the said connecting-rod, which passes through asuitable guide 41 and carries a block 42, to which is loosely pivoted a swinging cam-piece 43. The swinging cam-piece is pro- .vided with a rearwardlyextending toe 44 and .an operating cam-surface 45. A switch-lever 46 is pivoted upon a stationary stud 47, said switch-lever spring actuated by a spring 48. The switch-lever 46 carries a contact-piece 49, which may conveniently be a plunger arranged to enter a mercury-cup 50. A detent 51, pivoted upon a. stationary stud 52, is provided with a hooked portion 53, adapted to engage the end of the switch-lever 46 and to maintain the plunger 49 in contact with the mercury in the cup .50. The upper end of the detent 51 is provided with a projecting portion 54, arranged to be engaged by the cam-surface of the swinging cam-piece 43. The parts are in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 6 when circuit is closed and the machine is operatingwith the carriage moving from left to right .under the influence of the feed-screw 3. When the rack bar swings upward to cause the commencement of the return movement of the carriage, the arm 39 will move downward, allowing the swinging cam-piece 33 to move downward. During such movement the lower face of the toe 44 will engage a stationary stud and will be swung outwardly until finally at its lowermost position the surface of the said toe will have passed the stud 55, and the cam-piece will again swing back into position, but with the stud in the path of the upward movement of the upper surface of the toe 44. The parts will rest in this position until at the completion of the return movement of the carriage the rack again falls, lifting the lever 39 and lifting the swinging cam-piece 43. The stud 55 now engaging the upper surface of the too 44, the swinging cam-piece will be swung to the left, causing the cam-surface 45 to engage the projecting portion 54 of the detent 51, swinging the same upon its pivotal support 52 and releasing the hook 53 thereof from engagement with the switch-lever 46. The switch-lever 46 will now rock upon its support, under influence of the spring 48, to lift the plunger 49 clear of the mercury cup 50, and electrical connection through the said mercury-cup will be broken.

desire to be limited only to the precise de tails of construction and combination of parts herein.

What I claim'is' I 1. In phonograph-operating mechanism,the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and The parts will now remain in this position until the switch- &

a carriage deriving motion in one direction.

therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising a worm connected to move longitudinally with the carriage, and a rack with which said Worm is adapted to engage, said rack and Worm arranged to move laterally into and out of engagement with each other, and means disconnecting said carriage from direct engagement with said drive-shaft upon operative engagement of said worm and rack.

2. In phonograph-operating mechanism,the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising a worm connected to move longitudinally with the carriage, a rack with which said worm is adapted to engage, and means for moving said rack and worm laterally with respect to each other to engage and disengage each other, and for simultaneously lifting the carriage upon a movement engaging said rack and worm to disconnect the carriage from engagement with the said threaded drive-shaft.

3. In phonograph-operating mechanism,the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising an auxiliary shaft, a worm rotatably mounted upon said shaft but arranged to slidelongitudinally thereon, said worm connected to said carriage, a rack arranged to move into and out of connection with said worm, and means operated by said rack in its movement in one direction, disconnecting said carriage from direct engagement with said threaded drive-shaft.

4. In phonograph-operating mechanism, the

combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising an auxiliary shaft rotatably connected with said drive-shaft, a worm rotatably mounted upon said shaft but arranged to slide longitudinally thereon, means connecting said worm to move longitudinally with said carriage, a rack arranged longitudinally in line with said worm, links pivotally supporting said rack and themselves pivoted to a stationary support, a member carried by said rack adapted to engage the said carriage and lift same to disconnect it from direct engagement with the threaded drive-shaft, and means for swinging the rack upon its support to throw same into and out of engagement with the said worm.

5. In phonograph-operatingmechanism,the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising an auxiliary shaft, a worm rotatably mounted upon said shaft but arranged to slide longitudinally thereon, said worm connected to said carriage,a rack mounted longitudinally in line with the plane of movement of the worm, links pivotally supporting said rack and themselves pivoted to a stationary support, carriage-lifting means controlled by said rack, and tripping means for operating said rack, controlled by longitudinal movements of the said carriage.

6. In phonograph-operatin g meehanism,the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising a worm connected to move longitudinally with the carriage, a rack with which said worm is adapted to engage, means for moving said rack and worm laterally with respect to each other to cause same to engage or disengage each other, meansdisconnecting the carriage from direct engagement with said threaded drive-shaft upon operative engagement of said worm and rack, and means temporarily locking the carriage against return movement during the relative lateral movement of the rack and worm to engage each other.

7. In phonograph-operatingmechanism, the combination with a threaded d rive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising an auxiliary shaft rotatably connected with said drive-shaft, a worm rotatably mounted upon drive-shaft, but arranged to slide longitudinally thereon, means connecting said worm to move longitudimtlly with said carriage, a rack arranged longitudinally in line with said worm, links pivotally supporting said rack and themselves pivoted to a stationarysupport, a member carried by said rack adapted to engage the said carriage and lift same to disconnect it from direct engagement with the threaded driveshaft, means carried by the carriage for en ga ging the rack to swing it upon its support into engagement with the worm, and means for temporarily locking the carriage against return movement during the movement of said rack to engage said worm.

8. In phonograph-operating mechanism, the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the earriage comprising a worm connected to move longitudinally with the carriage, means for manual adjustment of the position of the worm with respect to the carriage, and a rack with which said worm is adapted to engage, said rack and worm arranged to move laterally into and out of engagement with each other, and means disconnecting said carriage from direct engagement with said drive-shaft upon operative engagement of said worm and rack.

9. In phonograph-operating mechanism, the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising a worm connected to move longitudinally with the carriage, and a rack with which said worm is adapted to engage, means controlled by movement of the carriage for causing the rack and worm to move laterally with respect to each other to engage or disengage each other, said means manually adjustable with respect to said carriage whereby the limit of travel of the carriage in either direction may be predetermined, and means for disconnecting said carriage from direct engagement with said drive-shaft upon operative engagement with said worm and rack.

10. In phonograph-operating mechanism, the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising an auxiliary shaft rotatably connected with said drive-shaft, a worm rotatably mounted upon said shaft but arranged to slide longitudinally thereon, means connecting. said worm to move longitudinally with said carriage, said means adjustable longitudinally with respect to said carriage, a rack arranged longitudinally in line with said worm, links pivotally supporting said rack and themselves pivoted to a stationary support, a member carried bysaid rack adapted to engage the said carriage and lift same to disconnect it from direct engagement with the threaded drive-shaft, a tripping-bar secured to said carriage for engaging said rack and swinging it upon its support to throw same into engagement with said worm, said tripping-bar adjustable longitudinally with respect to said carriage. r

11. In phonograph-operating mechanism,

the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carnage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising an auxiliary shaft, a worm rotatably mounted upon said shaft but arranged to slide longitudinally thereon, said worm connected to said carriage, a rack arranged to move into and out of connection with said worm, an air-check opposing the return movement of said rack, and means operated by said rack in its movement in one direction, disconnecting said carriage from direct engagement with said threaded drive' shaft.

12. In phonograph-operating mechanism, the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising a worm connected to move longitudinally with the carriage, and a rack with which said worm is adapted to engage, said rack and worm arranged to move laterally into and out of engagement with each other, means disconnecting said carriage from direct engagement with said drive-shaft upon operative engagement of said worm and rack, and means for opening an electric connection upon relative movement of said rack andworm to disengage each other.

13. phonograph-operating mechanism, the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising an auxiliary shaft, a worm rotatably mounted upon said shaft but arranged to slide longitudinally thereon, said worm connected to said carriage, a rack arranged to move into and out of connection with. said worm, means operated by said rack in its movement in one direction, disconnecting said carriage from direct engagement with said threaded drive-shaft, and means operated by said rack-in its movement in the other direction for disconnecting electrical contacts.

14. In phonograph-operating mechanism, the combination with a threaded drive-shaft and a carriage deriving motion in one direction therefrom, of return mechanism for the carriage comprising an auxiliary shaft, a worm rotatably mounted upon said shaft but arranged to slide longitudinally thereon, said worm connected to said carriage, a rack arranged to move into and out of connection with said worm, means operatedby said rack in its movement in one direction, disconnecting said carriage from direct engagement with said threaded drive-shaft, means operated by said rack in its movement in the other direction for disconnecting electrical contacts, and an air-check opposing movement of the rack in the latter direction.

In witness whereofl have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of March, 1904.

FREDERICK PEARCE.

Witnesses:

(J. F. CARRINGTON, C. L. HALL. 

